THE James family, Coolawang, Mundulla, went back-to-back, smashing the record price at the Naracoorte first-cross ewe sale again today, making $386.

Coolawang also won the blue-ribbon with their sale-toppers, which were $20 up on their top price ewes last year.

But, the blue ribbon was not determined by the top price paid at the sale this year.

After a year’s trial, the sale went back to having the blue-ribbon judged, with JBS buyer Brendon Geary selecting Coolawang’s ewes, but also giving Deepwater Trust, Keppoch, and Rex Miles & Sons honourable mentions.

Coolawang’s blue-ribbon pen were a line of 119 June-drop young ewes, which were knocked down to Elders Naracoorte.

Their seconds were a line of 292 that made $352, sold to PPHS agent Richard Harvie.

Coolawang also sold 209 ewes at $338 to Elders Strathalbyn.

The sale got off to a great start. By pen 10, the record-breking price paid last year was already matched by DA&GM Eckert, Meningie, with 181 Deepwater-bloods, sold for $366 to Elders Mount Pleasant agent Richard Hentschke.

By the next pen, a new record was set, with Peter Ireland, Deepwater Trust, Keppoch, making the second-highest price at the sale with 250 Coolawang/Paxton Border Leicester-blds and Lines Gum Hill Merino-blds at $384, sold to Owen Merrett.

Deepwater Trust also sold 200 ewes at $354 and 184 at $334.

Regular seller Simon Formby, Rushmore Run, Strathalbyn, had a great day. His top price last year was $316 and this year all four of the pens he offered bettered that price. Mr Formby sold 80 Inverbrackie Border Leicester-blds and Lines Gum Hill Merino-blds for $360 to Elders Murray Bridge, along with 85 ewes at $340, 131 at $355 and 150 at the same price.

Scullions Farming, Hynam, had the biggest offering at the sale with more than 3600 ewes in and their top price was $352 for a line of 133.